Job Description

Chapman University invites applications for an Associate or Full Professor of Environmental Science & Policy and Program Director in the Schmid College of Science and Technology starting August 2027. This is a full-time, tenured position that requires work to be performed in the State of California with specific in-person teaching responsibilities and required on-campus availability at Chapman’s Orange campus.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked R2 institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. Our faculty are academic leaders who excel in both research and teaching. Dedicated to forward-looking, personalized education, we create an environment for unlimited achievement by both our students and faculty. More information about Chapman University is available at www.chapman.edu.

The Environmental Science & Policy Program is uniquely seated within two colleges at Chapman University: the Schmid College of Science and Technology and the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Schmid and Wilkinson Colleges embody Chapman’s mission of providing students with personalized educational experiences by fostering an outstanding community of teacher-scholars across a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Schmid College has a new 140,000 sq ft home, the Keck Center for Science and Engineering. More information about Schmid and Wilkinson Colleges is available at www.chapman.edu/science and www.chapman.edu/wilkinson, respectively.

The undergraduate-only serving Environmental Science & Policy Program is home to a diverse group of faculty with interdisciplinary specializations across the breadth of environmental sciences (ecology, engineering, hydrology, remote sensing) and environmental studies (anthropology, environmental justice, natural resource governance, political science, sociology). The program serves the interdisciplinary Environmental Science & Policy B.S. degree, the Environmental Science minor, and the Environmental Studies minor.

We seek candidates with an active research program in areas including but not limited to:

• Environmental health
• Environmental toxicology
• Water, soil, and/or air quality
• Environmental contaminants
• Natural resource governance

We value candidates who can identify avenues for collaboration both within and outside of the institution.

Faculty Role Responsibilities

The successful candidate will teach lower- and upper-level courses that contribute to the major and minors within the Environmental Science & Policy Program, maintain an active research program, and advise/mentor undergraduate research students. Significant scholarship, including publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at relevant research conferences, and obtaining and managing extramural grants is an expectation of the position.

Required responsibilities include:

• Teach lower- and upper-division Environmental Science & Policy courses, including core and elective courses. Current course descriptions are available at https://catalog.chapman.edu.
• Continue a research program in interdisciplinary environmental sciences, including publishing papers and presenting work in this area at local and national conferences.
• Actively contribute as an integral member of the Schmid College of Science and Technology in the ongoing development, implementation, and assessment of their academic and degree programs.
• Perform service to the unit, college, university, profession, and wider community as expected of a tenured faculty member.

Program Director Responsibilities

The successful candidate will lead the Environmental Science & Policy faculty and degree program as Program Director for a minimum of three years in an at-will, compensated appointment separate from their faculty role.

Required responsibilities include:

• Provide leadership, vision, and a voice for affiliated faculty, students, and degree programs.
• Oversee program budget and advocate on behalf of the program for resource use.
• Lead curriculum alignment and revisions, assessment reports, and course scheduling for the program.
• Coordinate and participate in program and college events, including events for student recruitment and commencement, as appropriate.
• Assign faculty to courses and hire appropriate part-time lecturers where needed.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between Schmid and Wilkinson Colleges pertaining to the support of this interdisciplinary program.

Qualifications

• An earned Ph.D. in one of the environmental sciences (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science & Management) or related field by the start of employment from an accredited institution.
• Earned tenure at the current institution of employment or equivalent.
• A strong history of interdisciplinary environmental science research, including evidence of an independent, nationally recognized, externally funded research program.
• Evidence of effective teaching at the undergraduate level, particularly in experiential learning courses, such as a senior capstone course, or upper division coursework.
• Experience in curriculum development and learning outcome assessment.
• Experience in leadership or administrative roles in academic service settings, such as college governance, curriculum, or assessment committees, ideally connected to interdisciplinary endeavors.

Application Instructions

Qualified candidates should submit the following electronically via Interfolio:

• Cover letter detailing qualifications related to the position description.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Statement of teaching philosophy that includes a brief description of past teaching experience, no more than two pages.
• Research Statement that details current and future environmental science research, no more than two pages.
• Statement of leadership philosophy that includes a brief description of administrative and leadership experiences as they relate to Program Director-level service, no more than one page.
• Contact information for three professional references. Letters will be requested from short-listed candidates.

Inquiries may be directed to Richelle Tanner, Search Committee Chair, at schmidcollege@chapman.edu. Please use “Environmental Science & Policy Faculty Position” as the email subject line.

Application review will begin October 11, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. This position is subject to final budget approval. Salary range for this position is $105,000 - $125,000. Successful completion of a background check is required for the final candidate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.